A new programme of measures to help prevent abuse of immigration routes to study or marry in the UK was announced today by Home Secretary David Blunkett. The measures, developed over several months, include an accreditation scheme for genuine colleges and proposals, currently being consulted on with registrars, to restrict authorisation for marriages involving foreign nationals to specialist register offices closely supported by the Immigration Service. There will also be new units bringing together caseworking and immigration service expertise to better analyse intelligence and step up operations against bogus colleges and sham marriages.

Mr Blunkett also announced that quotas for workers in agriculture, hospitality and food processing would be reduced in light of EU enlargement as part of a planned review at the end of May.

He said "Globalisation means that many more people now chose to study, work or live for a time outside their countries of origin. Movement of people is a feature of the twenty first century affecting all major industrialised nations. We cannot and should not shut the door to workers, investors, genuine students, relatives and friends from other countries. But we must continue to strive to ensure that our immigration system is robust in preventing those without the right to enter or stay on in Britain from bending the rules. This is an ongoing process - not a question of quick fixes.

"The majority of foreign students are genuine and bring substantial economic benefits to the UK. A report from the British Council this week showed that students from overseas currently contribute 3 billion a year to our economy and predicts that this figure will be boosted by a further 13 billion by 2020. It is important that we protect this business and that these students continue to see further and higher education in our country as world-class.

"But we also have to ensure that this system is not abused. Today's programme is the result of several month's work to establish a system in which those applying to study in the UK will only be able to do so at an approved college. We are also stepping up enforcement action to crack down on bogus establishments.

"We are working closely with registrars to prevent sham marriages and are consulting on plans to designate specialist register offices, with dedicated support from the Immigration Service, to authorise marriages involving foreign nationals. Both parties involved would need to attend one of the specialist register offices in person to obtain authorisation.

"This is the right approach - ensuring the UK secures the benefits of immigration to the country while acting to tackle abuse of the system."

The new measures on students are:

* immediate implementation of a planned investigation into addresses masquerading as educational establishments;

* an accreditation and monitoring scheme will be set up to ensure genuine educational establishments are properly registered by the end of the year. Once the list is established, student visas will not be issued to attend colleges not on the list;

* a requirement to notify the Home Office when students do not turn up for courses and consultation on how best to implement this;

* a commitment to ensure the process is as non-bureaucratic as possible and discussion with colleges on how best to do this; and

* more Risk Assessment Units in our Embassies abroad to improve the flow of intelligence of fraud or abuse.

The proposals for consultation on marriages are:

* allowing only designated register offices to authorise marriages involving foreign nationals, working closely with the immigration service. This will enable a targeted, major new enforcement effort against sham marriages;

* changes to marriage laws to empower registrars to refuse to conduct a marriage suspected to be carried out for the purposes of illegal immigration while it is investigated.

The proposals on quota schemes are:

* A planned review in consultation with industry will assess what quotas will be needed following accession. Over the last year a large proportion of the quota based immigration schemes were taken up by people from the new EU member countries, for example 23% of the Sector Based Scheme and 35% of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.

* Industry involvement in the review will ensure that, for example, the picking of summer crops is not adversely affected, and whether any other changes are needed to the scheme.

The Home Office will also be reviewing the rules and practices governing EC Association Agreement applications from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. This will take account of the ongoing review into allegations made regarding the processing of claims from Romania.

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